Hopped on the Whiskey Wagon on a whim and had an absolute blast!!! I live in San Andreas and…read morebetween work and property maintenance I hardly ever get out to do anything fun, add that to the recent storms and I've been too nervous to drive the icy windy roads at night. Gold Rush Tour Company gave me a completely stress free night, all I had to think about was what to order at each stop. If you're a local who needs a stress free night out I 100% recommend the Whiskey Wagon and Gold Rush Tour Company in general. If you're visiting the area and don't love planning every minute of you trip, you can trust Gold Rush Tour Company to show you the best of what Calaveras has to offer!

We took a tour with my mom, 90-year-old uncle, and cousins that were here to visit. It was super…read morefun. Jorge was fantastic! He made sure my uncle was comfortable and cared for at each stop. We loved the views and the wine at Aloria, which we had never tried before.

I planned my cousins bachlorette trip up here mid march (St. Patricks day weekend). I was trying to…read moreplan a girls day out, and definitely wanted to do some wine tasting but didn't really want to be a Designated driver. I found Courtwood by searching online, and I'm SO happy I found Chris @Courtwood! I was a little bummed I didn't find any available tours on their website, so I reached out via email. Chris promptly sent a reply with pricing, details, and that it would be quite packed in Murphy's, so she would take us on a private tour around the outlying wineries (good call, none of the wineries were too packed and we had a lot of "private time" at each vineyard). Chris picked us up right out front of our hotel right on time, had a smile and made sure she knew who the bride was and made her feel extra special! We stopped at Twisted Oak, Chatom, Ironstone (for lunch), and Aryael Vieux (TOP FAVE!! I'll be reviewing these wineries soon). Chris took care of everything, all we had to worry about was sipping wine and having a wonderful and relaxing time. Hanging out with Chris was like having another friend just along for the ride! We picked up a loaf of fresh bread at one of the wineries, and mentioned that we wanted to get some butter later on, Chris told us she needed to pick something up too and that we could come with her! I can't say enough good things, they even include a slideshow of your trip (chris takes photos throughout the tour) and email it to you promptly after your tour. If you are in the area, I would definitely come here and take a tour with Courtwood,

I really don't have enough good things to say about Chris at Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours. I was…read moregiven the task of setting up a wine tasting tour in the Murphy's area for a bachelorette group of 9 people. We stayed in Angel's Camp in a friend's cabin, and being unfamiliar with the area, I completely put my trust in Chris to arrange everything for us. She exceeded my expectations (and made me look like I had done a lot more than I had!) She asked a lot of questions about our group and the types of wines we liked so that she could tailor the tour very specifically. Preferring the boutique wineries to the large scale Ironstone types, Chris took us to six different wineries that ranged significantly from Twisted Oak, to Prospect 772, to Aerial Vieux. As a large group Chris coordinated with Kristen, who also leads tours in the area to caravan us around in their large air conditioned vans. It seemed like she had personal relationships with the various winemakers and their staff and was able to get us some kind of behind the scenes cave tour/vineyard tour/private tasting room access everywhere we went. I have to say the best thing about the day was the lunch. Chris set it up on a long table outside Chatom winery and it literally looked like something straight out of Sunset Magazine. She brought local cheese and interesting dips, and the salads were presented in ball mason jars. It really was so well done, I think Chris might have a future in putting on lunches in addition to taking tours! After the tasting, Chris and Kristen took us into Murphy's, waited for us while we had dinner, and then took us all the way back to Angels Camp. I highly recommend Courtwood for small and large tours alike. Chris was just wonderful!

We have booked this service 2 years in a row. We always have great customer service when booking,…read morethe company sends lots of reminders that your booking is coming up and they always have friendly drivers.

Thank you for such an awesome party bus experience! The service was on point and made my 30th…read morebirthday celebration even better! The expectations were definitely exceeded! Can't wait to book again for future events!

I'm so happy that I passed the sign that led me to Mineral Wines. What an adorable experience. An…read moreolder man poured me tastes of two whites and two reds, and he was not stingy in quantity or in conversation. It was delightful to hear about his history on this property, his son-in-law-the-winemaker's experience and interest and awards mineral collecting, and the creation of these wines. I was very comfortable sitting and chatting with the man and his wife (I think that's who she was..?) for a while, like new friends. It was fun to talk with the winemaker too. I left in such a good mood after tasting good wines and hanging out with these really kind, genuine people. Apparently plans (or dreams) are in the works to develop a more sophisticated tasting room. In the meantime, it's adorable and friendly. The minerals should keep any non-wino interested. And the company can't be beat.

We did 2 wine tastings and the wines were very good. The host - server Amanda was amazing. We…read moreappreciate their Covid protocols! We will be back.

First time stopping in this winery, as we have passed it multiple times over the past 88 years…read more It definitely is a hidden gym and I don't want to promote it too much because I love the intimacy it brings However, the grounds are absolutely beautiful, there's even Airbnb rooms to rent, they have live music, beautiful patio area for Woodfire pizzas barbecuing I had no idea about this!! And let's talk about the service, Cindy, who was pouring our tastings, was so sweet, engaging, felt like we were visiting a friend. There were a couple of locals that would walk in, and everyone was so pleasant. Can't wait to go back. Ohh the wines-- yes, those too are good. Let's say generous tasting pours, and we walked out with a bottle too.

Great wine and nice cozy B&B we stayed at! Would recommend their Rosé; we took a bottle home with…read moreus.

We visited Ironstone Vineyards to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it was such a beautiful…read moreplace to spend the day. As you drive up, you're greeted by gorgeous landscaping and flowers everywhere -- the setting alone makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. We did a wine tasting and really enjoyed the wines. The Sauvignon Blanc was especially good -- crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. The Pinot Noir was also a standout, smooth and easy to sip. You can tell they put care into their wines, and there was something for everyone in our group to like. The grounds are spacious and peaceful, with views, gardens, and plenty of spots to wander or sit and relax. It feels more like an experience than just a quick tasting stop. The woman helping us was a bit reserved, but still helpful as we made our selections. Overall, Ironstone is a lovely place to visit if you're in the area -- great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a memorable outing.

We visited the vineyards yesterday and had lunch. The…read morehamburger was delicious we also had the chicken sandwich and the 3 cheese broccoli soup Everything was delicious Great atmosphere

Transportation to/from a concert in Murphys was on time and David was so pleasant. Really…read moreappreciate that MLA ran the shuttle even though there were just a handful of us!

From giving a quote to picking us up for my daughters Yosemite wedding, EVERYTHING was…read moreprofessional. mother lode even gave us weather and road advice and no problem when we had to move everything up 3 hours due to snow. HIGHLY RECOMMEND and the owner is hands on, helpful and the sweetest!

Review for Above the Rush…read more Great vibes and wine. Best experience, service, and wine selection in Murphy Area. I'm a Bourbon & Rum drinker and there were some really cool wines that compliment. The server and staff were friendly and had great conversations with them.

This was my favorite winery in Murphy!…read more They have a sister winery closer to Angel camps. It's called Above The Rush and that one offers bites with wine pairing, tasting fee is still waived with bottle. The bites were delicious really brought out the tastes of their wine!

Olivia is a F****** gem. We will be back…read more We learned a lot about wine on this visit. Kisses

Definitely one of the gems in the area! Cozy atmosphere,…read moreattentive staff, and the friendliest poster cat, Otis! She's such a pretty girl who charms every customer that walks in！

Me and some friends were in town for a local festival and we decided to stop by this place. Let me…read morejust say, wow! The atmosphere and vibe was amazing. The staff were super friendly and checked on us often, and were more than happy to chat. The outdoor patio was super cute The food was delicious as well! Me and my husband shared the gnocchi and bruschetta, and my friend and her boyfriend got the bread and oil. Super good:)

Avellino is an amazing new addition to the revitalization of downtown Angels Camp. We had the…read morepleasure of visiting Avellino recently after a fun filled day of wine tasting in Murphys. We called to try to make reservations for dinner but were told they don't take reservations. No worries! We decided to take our chances on a Saturday night. First impressions were great! The location is very cozy with a few tables and a bar. I fell in love with all of the imported Italian food for sale in the market area. Authentic Italian pasta, wine, and treats? Don't mind if I do! Obviously the prices will be more than a package of Golden Grain pasta at the grocery store, but you are paying for the authenticity and quality. We were told that all of the items in the market are imported from Italy except for the gelato which is from Marin. We were lucky to have a table as they were packed when we arrived. Even though it was cold outside, there was one outside table available with a patio heater which really helped keep us nice and comfortable. We ordered the bruschetta which had the most flavorful tomatoes and herbs. We then tried the gnocchi in a pesto cream sauce. Being Italian, I'm super picky when it comes to gnocchi. Usually it is super tough and chewy in restaurants which is not how it should be. This gnocchi was super tender and light and the sauce was very light and flavorful. So delicious! For dessert we ordered the tiramisu which was seriously the best I have ever had. The servers were extremely friendly and efficient. Despite how busy they were, we felt taken care of and treated like family. The owner Sarah has struck gold again with Avellino. We can't wait to return! Buon appetito!